Dispensing holder for paper rolls and the like

ABSTRACT

A holder and dispensing means for rolls of paper and the like which comprises a support at one end and a sleeve rotatably connected to the support and constructed to snugly receive the core of the roll. The roll rotates together with the sleeve without bouncing or wobbling on the sleeve. The sleeve also acts as an anchor when a piece of the paper strip is pulled off the roll at one of the score lines. The sleeve slidably supports an extension sleeve in adjusted positions thereon whereby rolls of different lengths may be accommodated.

United States Patent [72] Inventor James G. Davis 41 Lincoln Ave.Yeadon, Pa. 19050 [21] AppLNo. 853,787 [22] Filed Aug. 28, 1969 [45]Patented July 20, 197l [54] DISPENSING HOLDER FOR PAPER ROLLS AN THELIKE 2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 242/55.2, 242 73 [51] Int. Cl A47k 10/22, A47k 10/40, B651119/00 [50] Field of Search 242/552,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 600,333 3/1898Meeker..............

1,618,342 2/1927 Kirkman 242/552 1,674,285 6/1928 Harvey 242/55 .22,073,429 3/1937 Spicher 242/552 2,419,798 4/1947 Stone 242/5522,515,990 7/1950 Dantzlen. 242/552 Primary Examiner-George F. MautzAtmrneyArthur A. Jacobs ABSTRACT: A holder and dispensing means forrolls of paper and the like which comprises a support at one end and asleeve rotatably connected to the support and constructed to snuglyreceive the core of the roll. The roll rotates together with the sleevewithout bouncing or wobbling on the sleeve. The sleeve also acts as ananchor when a piece of the paper strip is pulled off the roll at one ofthe score lines. The sleeve slidably supports an extension sleeve inadjusted positions thereon whereby rolls of different lengths may beaccommodated.

PATENTEDJULZOBTI 3,593,936

lNVENTOR. JAMES G. DAVIS ATTORNEY.

DISPENSING HOLDER FOR PAPER ROLLS AND 'llllllE LIKE The inventionrelates to holders for rolls of strip material such as toilet paper,paper towels, etc., and it particularly relates to holders of theaforesaid type which can be mounted in various positions ranging fromthe horizontal to the vertical.

Many different types of paper roll holders have heretofore been used.Most of these holders have consisted of a rod or spindle mounted betweentwo supporting brackets, with the roll adapted to be positioned forrotation on the spindle. The rolls generally consist of a tubular coreor sleeve upon which the paper or the like is rolled up. In order toposition the roll on the holder it is necessary to release one end ofthe spindle from its support and then slide the core of the rollthereover. The loose end of the spindle is then reattached to itssupport. When the roll is used up, it is again necessary to release oneend of the spindle, remove the core and reposition another roll on thespindle, which is then again fixed in place.

The above type of construction is, in many ways, unsatisfactory becauseit requires two end supports. Furthermore, since these supports must bein fixed position, the roll can only be used in one position, generallythe horizontal. Such holders are, therefore, not only more expensive tomake and install but also less flexible in their manner of use.

Another unsatisfactory feature of most prior roll holders is that thecore of the roll has a much larger diameter than the spindle of theholder so that the roll is only loosely held thereon in the radialdirection. This gives an inordinately large amount of play so that whenthe strip is pulled from the roll,

the roll itself bounces and wobbles on the spindle. Most rolls of paperand the like are provided with perforated or scored lines to permit apiece of paper to be pulled or torn off therefrom. In order to provide aclean break at the line of scoring, the roll should be firmly mounted.However, if it bounces and wobbles in a loose manner, it is not anchoredin a sufficiently steady manner. As a result, the paper tends to tearraggedly and not cleanly at the score line.

Another disadvantage of most prior roll holders is that they are madefor only one length of roll. Therefore, if a holder is of a longitudinalsize for use with toilet paper it cannot be used for toweling, etc.

It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide a rollholder which is firmly supported at only one end and which can bemounted in any position desired.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a roll holder ofthe aforesaid type which provides a firm but rotatable grip on the coreof the roll so that when the roll is rotated it does not bounce orwobble relative to the holder.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a roll holder ofthe aforesaid type which is adapted to be made adjustably extensible.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a roll holder ofthe aforesaid type which is simple in construction, inexpensive tomanufactureand easy to install and use.

Other objects any many of the attendant advantages of this inventionwill be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood byreference to the following description when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. I is a perspective view showing a holder embodying the presentinvention, a roll of paper being positioned thereon.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. ll.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view, partly broken away, showing analternative embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

Referring now ingreater detail to the various figures of the drawing,wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts, there isshown in FIGS. 1 and 2 a roll holder, generally designated 10,comprising a base 12 to which is attached a bracket or pedestal 14. Thepedestal I4 is provided with a screw-threaded aperture 16 whichthreadedly receives a screw-threaded extension 18 of a spindle 20.

Mounted on the spindle 20, for rotation relative thereto, is a sleeve 22which is provided with an axial bore 24 through which the spindle 20extends. The free end of the spindle 20 extends into an internal recess26 in the corresponding end of the sleeve 22 and is held in positionwithin that recess by a snapring 28 which is fixed in a peripheralgroove 30 adjacent the free end of the spindle. This snapring 28prevents any sig niiicant axial movement of the sleeve 22 relative tothe spindle 20 but is sufficiently spaced from the inner wall of therecess 26 to permit free rotation of the sleeve relative to the spindle.

A spacer disc 32 is mounted on an intermediate, shouldered portion 34 ofthe spindle, adjacent the extension I8, this disc being freely rotatableand acting to space the sleeve 22 from the pedestal M. It is also of asufficiently wide diameter to act as an end support for the paper roll36, as is clear from the drawing.

At the opposite end of the sleeve there is provided a disc 38, generallysimilar to the disc 32. However, the disc 38 is provided with an axiallyextending, integral annular flange 40. Although the discs 32 and 1117can be made of any desired material, such as nylon, vinyl, wood, metal,etc., they are preferably made of polyethylene or a similar materialwhich has some inherent flexibility although it is substantially rigid.When made of such material, as in the device illustrated, the flange 40is preferably slightly tapered with a base diameter closelyapproximating the internal diameter of the recess 26, and withperipheral ribs 42. In this manner, when the flange 40 is inserted intothe recess 26, it is frictionally engaged in a tight but releasablemanner similarly to a plug in a bottle. The disc 38 thereby isrcleasably fixed to the sleeve 22 and rotates along therewith.

The operation of the device is clear from the above description anddrawing. Briefly, when a roll of paper or the like is to be mounted onthe holder, the disc 38 is removed and the core 44 of the roll isslipped over the sleeve 22. The disc 38 is then replaced, and the rollis ready for use. In this respect, the core 44 fits sufiiciently tighton the sleeve 22 so that there is a frictional binding therebetween.This friction is just sufficient to permit the roll to rotate togetherwith the sleeve 22 when the strip of paper on the roll is pulled out.Furthermore, this fric' tion acts to hold the roll sufficiently tight onthe sleeve 22 to provide an anchor for the paper when a piece of it istorn away on one of the score lines.

The sleeve 22, as illustrated, is made of wood. However, it may beconstructed of any other desirable material such as cardboard, metal,plastic, etc., as long as its surface is sufficiently frictional toprevent undueslippage between it and the core of the roll. If desired,it may even be provided with slight corrugations or ribs on its surfaceto increase the frictional binding, although this is usually notnecessary except with certain very slippery materials.

It is further to be understood that although the spindle 24 is axiallylocked to the sleeve 22 by the snapring 28, any other feasible lockingmeans can be substituted. In this same respect, although the spindle isattached to the pedestal 14 by screw-threaded means such as shown at 16and 18, any other desirable and feasible connecting means besubstituted.

The construction of the above-described device clearly indicates that itmay be mounted in an position and facing in any direction, vertical,horizontal or angular. This is because it does not require a support ateach end, but only at one end. This also permits attachment to almostany surface. In this respect, the base 12 can be fore'shortened orelongated as desired or may be made of any desired contour to fit anyparticular supporting surface.

In addition, if the device is mounted so that the spindle and sleeveextend upwardly, the disc 38 can be eliminated and the roll will stay inplace by gravity. This is useful if it is desired to use the holder fora roll, such as for paper towels, which is of much greater length thanthe toilet paper roll illustrated. In such case, the elongated core canextend upwardly for a substantial distance above the sleeve 22.

7 FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a modification of the device wherein theholder can be adjusted longitudinally to fit a variety of rolls ofdifferent axial length. This form of the holder, generally designated100, utilizes the same type of pedestal, indicated at 102 and the sametype of spindle and sleeve construction. However, the sleeve 104,similar to sleeve 22, is provided with a longitudinal slot 106 whichreceives a setscrew 108 projecting downward through a threadedcountersunk bore in a telescoping sleeve U0. The sleeve 110 is hollow tosnugly fit over the sleeve [04 and is provided at its free end with adisc 112 similar to the disc 38 in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The sleeve 110 is slidable relative to sleeve 104 and is held inlongitudinally adjusted position by the setscrew 108. Although asetscrew and groove adjustment is illustrated, any other desirable andfeasible means may be substituted,

The longitudinal adjustability of the holder of FIGS. 3 and 4 ispossible only because of the fact that a support is necessary at onlyone end.

The invention claimed is:

l. A dispensing holder for rolls of strip material comprising apedestal, a spindle fixed at one end to said pedestal and having a freeopposite end, a cylindrical sleeve rotatably mounted on said spindle,and a frictional outer surface on said sleeve, said sleeve beingconstructed and arranged to snugly receive the cylindrical hollow coreof a roll of strip material, said sleeve slidably supporting a hollowcylindrical extension sleeve, said extension sleeve being telescopicallyslidable over said first mentioned sleeve, and means to releasablysecure said extension sleeve in longitudinally adjusted positionsrelative to said first mentioned sleeve.

2. The holder of claim 1 wherein a disc of larger diameter than saidextension sleeve is releasably connected to the free end of saidextension sleeve remote from said first mentioned sleeve.

1. A dispensing holder for rolls of strip material comprising apedestal, a spindle fixed at one end to said pedestal and having a freeopposite end, a cylindrical sleeve rotatably mounted on said spindle,and a frictional outer surface on said sleeve, said sleeve beingconstructed and arranged to snugly receive the cylindrical hollow coreof a roll of strip material, said sleeve slidably supporting a hollowcylindrical extension sleeve, said extension sleeve being telescopicallyslidable over said first mentioned sleeve, and means to releasablysecure said extension sleeve in longitudinally adjusted positionsrelative to said first mentioned sleeve.
 2. The holder of claim 1wherein a disc of larger diameter than said extension sleeve isreleasably connected to the free end of said extension sleeve remotefrom said first mentioned sleeve.